The Town Board of Oyster Bay voted Tuesday to impose new requirements on companies that install cell phone towers.
Supervisor Joe Saladino first introduced the legislation to stop the "intrusive devices," he said.
Applicants will be required under the new initiative to get a building permit. In some cases, they'll need a special-use permit from the Zoning Board of Appeals before installation.
Democrats accuse Saladino of blindly issuing 22 permits for such equipment in April.
"Supervisor Saladino and his board either knowingly approved dozens of cellular permits or were out to lunch when they were approved," said Marc Herman, who is running to replace Saladino as town supervisor.
Herman said it wasn't until residents at a news conference in May starting protesting the move that Saladino started discussing regulations.
Saladino calls that claim "pure politics."